DU cutoffs may fall as boards decide to end marks moderation

Students can expect the Delhi University cut-offs to be lower this year, with the CBSE deciding to do away with moderation, a practice of revising marks upward on Monday.

However, it will continue with the practice of granting grace marks to ensure a student is able to pass if he/she is losing out due to a few marks.

However, the mark sheet will distinctively reflect the grace marks awarded to the student, something which the body will do for the first time.

Since 1992, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been doing moderation, a practice official admit is not a true reflection of the performance of the student.

In a high-level meeting held on Monday chaired by Anil Swarup, secretary school education, HRD ministry with all the state boards and education officials, all state boards also arrived on a consensus to do away with the practice from this year itself.

HT had first reported about states planning to do away with moderation on 12 April.

States have also said they will continue with their own policy for grace marks. “The lower the marks, the higher are the benefits of moderation. So it is unfair for those who work hard. Many states have been doing this to ensure their pass percentage remains intact. However, this unnecessarily increases the cutoffs,” said a senior official

In the past, CBSE and various other state boards have awarded up to 10% to 15% cent extra marks in various subjects such as mathematics and physics, among others. However, these extra marks are subject to the ceiling of 95% as far as CBSE is concerned. This means that scores of a student getting 80% to 85% can be increased, but someone getting 95% or above does not benefit from moderation.

“CBSE has decided it will not spike marks at all. This will be implemented for this year’s board exam itself. It will award grace marks which will also be reflected in the mark sheet and the website will also clearly mention the mechanism used to give grace marks and to what extent,” said a senior official on Monday.

Officials said as CBSE has decided to lead by example it will put pressure on other board to follow too.

There were a few states that expressed apprehension over mark sheet reflecting the grace marks stating it will be viewed as a stigma but others argued that it will be unfair for those who pass without the grace marks.

It has also been decided not to include the marks awarded for extracurricular activities in the final tally of marks.

They would be reflected separately on the mark sheet preferably in the shape of grades..

THERE WERE A FEW STATES THAT EXPRESSED APPREHENSION OVER MARK SHEET REFLECTING THE GRACE MARKS STATING IT WILL BE VIEWED AS A STIGMA